K230-Vision
Overview
K230-Vision is RockBase IoT's AI vision module, built on Canaan's next-generation K230 dual-core RISC-V processor with up to 6 TOPS equivalent AI compute (13.7× the K210). The module runs a Linux + RT-Smart dual system and supports CanMV / MicroPython development, enabling multimodal AI applications including visual recognition, speech processing, and image understanding.
K230-Vision comes in Standard and Deluxe editions; the Deluxe edition integrates a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen and works out of the box. Its serial port connects directly to mainstream platforms such as ESP32, STM32, Raspberry Pi, and Jetson.
Repository: RockBase-iot/K230-Vision
Hardware Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| SoC | Canaan K230 dual-core RISC-V |
| AI compute | 6 TOPS equivalent (13.7× K210) |
| Memory | 1 GB LPDDR4 (2 GB optional) |
| Storage | SD card expansion |
| OS | Linux + RT-Smart dual system |
| Development | CanMV, MicroPython, C/C++ SDK |
| Camera | DVP / MIPI interfaces, multi-channel input |
| Display | Deluxe: 3.5" capacitive touchscreen (Standard: none) |
| Serial | UART / USB; pairs with ESP32 / STM32 / Raspberry Pi / Jetson |
| Network | Ethernet (Wi-Fi 6 module / 4G expansion) |
| Power | USB-C 5 V or DC 5 V input |
Edition Comparison
| Feature | Standard | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| K230 processor | ✓ | ✓ |
| 1 GB LPDDR4 | ✓ | ✓ (2 GB optional) |
| 3.5" capacitive touchscreen | — | ✓ |
| Out-of-box AI demos | Basic visual recognition | Multimodal interaction (vision + speech + touch) |
| Best for | Embedded vision nodes, industrial inspection | HMI terminals, teaching demos, edge-AI gateways |
Interfaces
Serial Connection
K230-Vision communicates with an external host over UART. Typical wiring:
| K230 pin | External host (e.g. ESP32) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| TX | RX (e.g. GPIO3) | K230 data out |
| RX | TX (e.g. GPIO1) | K230 data in |
| GND | GND | Common ground |
| 3.3V | 3.3V | Level reference (optional) |
The K230-Vision serial port uses 3.3 V TTL levels and connects directly to 3.3 V devices such as ESP32, STM32, and Raspberry Pi.
Camera Interface
- Supports DVP parallel cameras and MIPI CSI cameras
- Recommended resolutions: 640 × 480, 1280 × 720, 1920 × 1080
- Multi-channel camera input (Deluxe edition can run vision + touch interaction simultaneously)
Development
CanMV
CanMV is a MicroPython-based development framework for the K230 with rich AI model APIs:
# CanMV example: face detection
from machine import FPIOA
from media.sensor import SENSOR
import KPU as kpu
sensor = SENSOR()
sensor.reset()
sensor.set_pixformat(sensor.RGB565)
sensor.set_framesize(sensor.QVGA)
task = kpu.load(0x300000) # load face-detection model
while True:
img = sensor.snapshot()
code = kpu.run_yolo2(task, img)
if code:
for i in code:
img.draw_rectangle(i.rect())
MicroPython
K230-Vision supports standard MicroPython syntax plus K230-specific hardware modules:
# UART example
from machine import UART
uart = UART(1, baudrate=115200, tx=2, rx=3)
uart.write(b'Hello from K230!')
AI Capabilities
| Capability | Description | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|
| Visual recognition | Face detection, object classification, pose estimation | Security monitoring, industrial QC |
| Speech processing | Keyword wakeup, ASR, TTS | Smart speakers, voice assistants |
| Image understanding | Image captioning, scene analysis, OCR | Document digitization, driver assistance |
| Edge inference | 6 TOPS local compute, no cloud needed | Offline AI, data-privacy protection |
Getting Started
1. Preparation
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| K230-Vision module | ×1 |
| USB-C data cable | ×1 |
| Micro-SD card (≥16 GB) | ×1 |
| (Optional) camera module | ×1 |
2. Flash the System Image
- Download the latest system image from K230-Vision Releases
- Write the image to the SD card with balenaEtcher or Rufus
- Insert the SD card and power on
3. Connect the Serial Console
# Linux/macOS
screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200
# Windows (PuTTY or MobaXterm)
# Select the corresponding COM port, baud rate 115200
4. Run Your First AI Demo
# Enter the CanMV environment after login
canmv
# Run the built-in face-detection demo
exec(open('/app/face_detection.py').read())
Resources
K230-Vision is RockBase IoT's latest AI vision platform — documentation and examples are continuously updated. Watch the GitHub repository for the latest news.